'Hellish swath' of homes engulfed in fire in Queens New York

Breezy Point
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Authorities are reporting that approximately 50 homes have been destroyed due to fire in a flooded neighborhood in Queens, New York.

The six-alarm fire raged through the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, New York, late Monday evening, requiring more than 190 firefighters to respond and attempt to contain the blaze.

Firefighters told WABC-TV that chest high flood waters forced them to use boats to rescue residents of the neighborhood from the fire. Twenty-five people had to be rescued from one apartment building when they became trapped in an upstairs unit. One 2-story unit that was engulfed in fire set the roof of another apartment ablaze. Firefighters had to climb onto an awning to access those trapped.

According to USA Today, a "hellish swath of tightly packed homes fully engulfed in orange flames" were visible at the scene, with some homes appearing to be flattened by wind and flames.

Two separate fires in the area are attributed to Sandy as well. One fire tore through a string of homes in Rockaway Park and a third fire damaged a church on Beach 129th Street in Belle Harbor.

Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the Breezy Point fire.